Physical Traits Evolve

Already as a result of virtualization, servers
from Dell and HP and other manufacturers have added Secure Digital (SD) memory
card slots inside the server to rapidly boot up the physical system into the
enterprise hypervisor of choice. While the manufacturers I talked to wouldn't
speculate on other hardware changes planned for the future, IT managers should
expect hardware add-on components that speed hypervisor operations.
It is clear that reliability, availability and
serviceability will only grow in importance as the concentration of virtual
machines on physical systems increases. Chad Fenner, director of product marketing
for Dell's PowerEdge server portfolio, and HP's Ferguson both pointed out areas
where their respective, competitive server-management tools can help make
operations more predictable.

For example, preemptive hardware failure
notification features already found in InSight Control help make the hardware
serviceable and available. On-board server hardware sensors monitor memory,
disk and CPU performance, and keep watch for symptoms that indicate an eminent
fault will become more common across data center servers. And servers to host
production workloads will increasingly have this monitoring telemetry with a
focus on integration with the hypervisor monitoring tools that are already
available. Besides hardware modifications, server
virtualization has forced growth in server-management tools. Both Dell, with
OpenManage, and HP, with Insight Control, today offer integration with VMware
vCenter and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager. IT managers should
expect to see even greater integration with these management platforms and a
tie-in to virtual machine lifecycle-management tools that show operational
costs along with service levels. The bigger physical and virtual machines of
the near future will also be among the most monitored and measured systems in
enterprise operations.

Cameron Sturdevant has been with the Labs since 1997, and before that paid his IT management dues at a software publishing firm working with several Fortune 100 companies. Cameron also spent two years with a database development firm, integrating applications with mainframe legacy programs. Cameron's areas of expertise include virtual and physical IT infrastructure, cloud computing, enterprise networking and mobility, with a focus on Android in the enterprise. In addition to reviews, Cameron has covered monolithic enterprise management systems throughout their lifecycles, providing the eWEEK reader with all-important history and context. Cameron takes special care in cultivating his IT manager contacts, to ensure that his reviews and analysis are grounded in real-world concern. Cameron is a regular speaker at Ziff-Davis Enterprise online and face-to-face events. Follow Cameron on Twitter at csturdevant, or reach him by email at csturdevant@eweek.com.